Building Briefs - November 4th

• Newton Lettings expands into new office

The new premises are within the same block of offices where managing director Riccardo Giovanacci first got his taste for working in the letting industry.

Mr Giovanacci acquired Newton Lettings, the lettings arm of his family’s long-established business Newton Property Management, in 2019.

He said: “Our move to new premises in the Charing Cross area of the city has been prompted by two things: first, we are expanding quickly and plan to hire more staff, so we need more space.

“Second, our former owners, Newton Property Management, is also on the growth path, having recently acquired a long-established factoring business in Ayrshire, so needs more of its office space to accommodate its new staff.

“We have been happily based at its Port Dundas Road offices since our buyout last year, but now is definitely the right time to move, so it is a case of successful expansion all round.

“Oddly enough, our new premises is where I originally got my first taste for the letting game – during a “work experience” stint with O’Neill Letting, Stephen O’Neill’s original letting company. It’s strange being back here now that time has moved on, but also somehow rather inspiring.

“The look of our new premises has been changed radically, mainly due to Luxe Casa, owned and operated by Jonny Kelly, who have transformed the old place into the coolest office in Charing Cross, if not the entire city centre. We’ve fitted an espresso bar to the main reception area for clients and tenants.”

• Dunfermline apartments with towering appeal launch to market

Penthouses are among a new launch of apartments “unlike anything previously brought to market in Dunfermline”.

The fourth and fifth floor of ‘The Tower’, which represents the third phase at the celebrated The Linen Quarter development, contain the highest apartments within the site, with panoramic views over the town and out to surrounding countryside.   

It is part of The Depot, the new build element of the wider project that is bringing about the transforming of the site and former Grade-A listed Duracord factory, Pilmuir Works – arguably the town’s most prominent landmark.

Edinburgh’s renowned JM Architects led the design for The Depot as well as overseeing the refurbished element, which is referred to as The Damask apartments - in a nod to the famed linen once created within the late 19th century building.

Caroline Reilly from Byzantian, the heritage developer behind the project, said: “We wanted to create a wow factor with these apartments.

“They confidently match the best city apartments out there and bring that sense of cosmopolitan style that has long eluded buyers in the Dunfermline and wider Fife market.

“The launch of fourth and fifth floors of The Tower, as we’ve taken to calling it, is a significant moment. Of course it means that we’ve now released the loftiest penthouses, which will always catch the eye, however it brings a range of other opportunities for first time buyers and downsizer in particular.”

• Prominent Leith artist honoured by local street naming

A street at a recently launched development near the Shore has been named in honour of celebrated Leith glass engraver Alison Geissler.

Geissler Drive, at Waterfront Plaza by CALA Homes (East), is a celebration of the life and work of Alison, who was one of the foremost Scottish glass engravers and the grandmother to broadcaster Martin Geissler.

Alison, who grew up in the area, was awarded an MBE for her services to glass engraving in 1991, and the Chairman’s Medal of the Edinburgh College of Art, at the age of 101.

One of her most notable pieces of work, a set of engraved goblets representing ten of the Queen’s Beasts, was presented to the Queen for her coronation in 1953.

Alison studied at the Edinburgh College of Art from 1925-1930 and continued her glass engraving career until the age of 94 – pieces of her work can be found in the majority of British public collections and in the collection of the Queen. Almost all of her work was done by traditional copper wheel engraving.

• Scottish Borders Council launches local development plan consultation

Scottish Borders residents can now have their say on the council’s proposed new local development plan (LDP).

The 12 week period for submitting representations opened on Monday until 25 January 2021. Those wishing to submit can do so here. 

The proposed LDP will replace the Local Development Plan 2016 as the statutory development plan for the Scottish Borders.

It sets out land use proposals and planning policies intended to guide development and inform planning decisions within the Scottish Borders over the next ten years.

Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the consultation is taking place predominantly online. To assist members of the public to take part, an interactive map has been developed to allow all LDP proposals to be viewed, as well as a video to help explain the process further.

Some households have already been made aware of the proposals through neighbour notification letters, advising them that the proposed LDP will continue to allocate a site near to their property. Such sites were previously allocated in the current Local Development Plan, adopted in 2016.

Other people will receive a letter informing them that the proposed new plan proposes a new allocation on a site close to their properties.

• Aberdeen house prices drop by -1.0% in third quarter of 2020

The house price change in Aberdeen for the third quarter of this year has been -1.0%, according to the latest ASPC Aberdeen Housing Market Report.

The report gives a summary of the activity in the housing market of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire during the third quarter of 2020. It is based on data supplied by the ASPC and has been compiled by the Centre for Real Estate Research (CRER) at the University of Aberdeen Business School.

The report found that the annual house price change in Aberdeen city and suburbs is -0.7% while the annualised change over five years in the city and suburbs is -4.8%.

In the third quarter of 2020, 1,244 residential dwellings were transacted, a change of 180.8% compared to the previous quarter 2020 Q2 and a change of -8.7% compared to the same quarter a year ago 2019Q3.

• Former Pitmedden hotel transformed into community cafe

The former Linsmohr Hotel in Pitmedden has been transformed into a cafe by the Udny Community Trust.

In March, the group bought the former hotel but their conversion plans were put on hold due to the outbreak of COVID-19.

However, the building will reopen for the first time in 18 months on Monday as a cafe with community facilities.

Opening the café has long been a dream of Pitmedden residents, who came together to revive the prominent building in the heart of the village. Their endeavour was boosted by a £100,000 grant from the Scottish Land Fund in support of the project.

Brian McDougall, chairman of the Udny Community Trust, said past consultations had revealed that residents most wanted to see the old hotel brought back to life as a cafe. He said he was absolutely delighted to confirm the cafe’s opening date.

The community cafe is expected to become a warm and welcoming meeting place for locals visitors with space for toddler and youth clubs, as well as health and wellbeing facilities.

A team of both paid staff and dedicated volunteers will be in charge of serving a wide range of locally produced food to cater for most tastes and dietary requirements, The Press and Journal reports.